Abdul Latif Khan Tarin facts for kids
Abdul Latif Khan Tarin (1884-1916) was a brave officer in the British Indian Army. He fought in World War I and was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM) for his courage before he died in battle.
Early Life and Family
Abdul Latif Khan was born in 1884 in a place called Haripur District, which was part of British India (now in Pakistan). His family belonged to the Tarin tribe. His father, Muhammad Habib Khan, was an important landholder, and his older brother was Abdul Majid Khan Tarin. In 1904, when he was 20 years old, Abdul Latif Khan joined the 82nd Punjabis, a famous army unit.
Military Career and Bravery
In 1912, Abdul Latif Khan was promoted to 'Jemadar'. This was a special rank for Indian officers in the British Indian Army, similar to a junior officer today. He served in different military missions and campaigns in the North-West Frontier Province of India and in North Waziristan Agency.
In December 1915, his army unit, called a battalion, was sent to Mesopotamia (which is now Iraq). They were going to fight in World War I against the Turkish and German forces. They arrived in Basra, Mesopotamia, in January 1916.
Abdul Latif Khan and his battalion took part in a major fight called the Battle of Dujaila. On March 8, 1916, he showed incredible bravery. He bravely attacked and stopped several enemy machine guns all by himself. Sadly, he was killed during this brave act. For his amazing courage, he was given the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM). He was buried at the battle site and is remembered at the World War I Basra War Memorial.
World War I was a huge global conflict where millions of people lost their lives. Soldiers like Abdul Latif Khan, who bravely fought for what they believed in, are remembered for their sacrifices.